I just installed the BMW E36 headlights, but when I turned them on, I noticed that they started to fog up like crazy. Now, as a result, when I'm driving, I don't have as much brightness on the road as I should have. Any possible reason for this? Can anything be done?

 

check to see the vent hole is clear

 

Water leaks down/in typically from top seams. Light efficiency is maybe 10%, all other is excess heat. Sw light on, heat the lamp, boil the water. Lamp is now filled with vapour.

Another effect after switching light on, is heat expansion. Thats not a problem as it escapes... but as the lamp cools, cooling air in the lamp contracts. It will suck in ambient air. If its moist, u again get moist air in, eh. That is why I keep on-switched lights always on, until car is parked (=get tickets for nuisance(!?) fog light usage, 120$). I dont want rainy day highway spray 'into lamps in contracting -phase'.

What happens to water vapour inside lamp? Always condenses to a surface below the dew point. (Google for the dew point table). As u drive, u lense is that surface...

When at dry ambient surroundings, take bulb out, install vacuum extension pipe inside lamp to create dry air circ until its totally dry. Meanwhile seal the upper seam, and as said, keep drain hole open.

 

wow that was a really complicated answer wiking ^.^

 

what's the best way to clean the inside of of your headlights or the other one? just so that it look clean and clear.

 

Open it up.If it's just water, wipe it off and make sure that the seals are good and that the vent hole is open/functional. For those of you with lights that are yellow like some dsm headlights get, use fine grit sandpaper and water, then wipe clear. Nice detailed answer wiking.

 

how do you open up the headlights? I just spend so much time and energy finally getting them to work, and I don't wanna keep doing this all the time. I never had this vapor problem with the stock lights.

 

I hear it's a ***** to separate the lens from the housing. The glue that BMW used to seal those lights are ridiculous. If anyone knows of an easier way other than the oven method, I'd like to know.

 

yeah, I would try either an oven or a heat gun, and maybe a razor if you can get to the adhesive part easily. If it's just water/condensation, then you might just want to vent it and use a heat gun or hairdryer to remove/evaporate the water.

 

wiking is too freaking smart.

 

I suppose that was THE simplified version b/c I am just a frozen watchman on top of our boat mast.

The actual Created science [even inside one lamp] is so much above every human head, that reasoning on this common man level [my limit] maybe is sufficient and b/c I had to ask our captain for more deTails. So keeping lights on once they have been turned on, and benefiting some way, is really just my guesswork, and maybe I just try to be smart(?). Anyways I suppose most of the dirt accumulates [in all boxes like the lamp] via in/out air travel eg. kinda breathing.

The dew point is very interesting phenomena, u hit in that in about every car corner. Every hidden pocket has moist ambient air exhange, get condensation when below dew point. Means rust... Want no rust? Spray Oil... its surface tension pushes the moist outta cracks. (The dew point border is very sharp: In my all glass sauna door, when warmed, typically the glass is ½way foggy ---> Now u can count my sauna/shower temperatures, IF u can guess on which side those droplest reside).

I have one over 30yr old round car lamp which is hermetically sealed (only high beam). Inside its condition is perfect b/c no holes, just glass all around. (Oftentimes it submerged as its been used as jacklight, pikes harpooning.) Luckily maxima doesnt have such; guess what the stealersHip lamp swap price would be.

 

oh my goodness... you sound like my engineering economy teacher. this is the reason im switching to industiral design. I understand what you're saying but I dont want to. LOL

 

...Sounds like mosquito, feels like mosquito, itches like mosquito. Oh btw, that was a mosquito.

 

let me guess electrical? I was doing mechanical...

 

No, I am not a teacher. When ethernet was commercialized, just happened to scrape my head in that spaghetti.

"I understand what you're saying but I dont want to. LOL"
Sounds ominous: most industrial designers dont wanna listen to basics - thats why we now scrape rust, swipe dust. And that is really related to old maXimas...

 

And AGAIN I have to say Thank you!!! I'm going to bring my E36's inside to the SC dried air for a day and then reseal them. Thinking simple silicone should be fine. I guess I will have to find another way to add accent LED's to the HD's. Oh well.

 

Once removed and inside, you can attach a vacuum hose to the lamp socket and leave it on for awhile to dry it out. Much more complete than waiting for it to dry. You can even do this on a wet rainy day... I did wait a day w/o the vacuum, but it still didn't take out all the "mist". Besides, I have no patience.

I had leaky headlamp on my pathfinder, and so I wrapped some electrical tape around my shopvac (tiny hose) so it'd fit snuggly onto the lamp socket. While vacuum was on, I took a hair drier and warmed the lense of the headlamp to help evaporate the vapors. It took about 5 min.

I'd use black urethane sealant only because I am not sure on UV resistance of silicone. Anyone know how silicone cures? I read that for windshield mirror buttons, silicone glue will cure faster with a dish of water left in the car... I guess if it's good enough to hold mirror button on the windshield, it will probably be fine for the headlamps...

 

Been tHere, done that Opel has never been foggy since.

 

36's never fogged up on me, I live near the coast too, as u can see by the rust that formed on the cut edges of the brackets. Sorry to hear mang.